Q&A - PSLE English

[ridcully]

Vanilla Cake:

Hi ridcully,


How about this answer: \"Owing to Jack's forgetfulness, he left his wallet behind in the cinema.\"? Is this acceptable? Pls advise and thks for your help.

Hi Vanilla,

I would say no. See my answer to vidhyalog.

The main idea is the one about leaving the wallet behind in the cinema; consequently, it takes the noun. The secondary idea about forgetfulness states why; consequently, it takes the pronoun. Hence:

Owing to his forgetfulness, Jack left his wallet behind in the cinema.

Rgds
R

[ridcully]

Vanilla Cake:

Q67

Helen drank her coffee. The waitress offered to refill the cup.
No sooner ____________________________________________

'No sooner' is paired with 'than' and we usually use the past perfect. Thus:

No sooner had Helen drunk her coffee than the waitress offered to refill the cup.

Vanilla Cake:

Q68
\"Did you visit your grandfather like I have asked you to?\" Mrs Lee asked her son.
Mrs Lee asked _______________________________________________________

Key issue about rewriting direct speech questions into indirect speech is to change the word order into statement form. Thus:

Mrs Lee asked her son whether he had visited his grandfather like she had asked him to.

Rgds
R

[PiggyLalala]

ridcully:

Vanilla Cake:

Q67

Helen drank her coffee. The waitress offered to refill the cup.
No sooner ____________________________________________

'No sooner' is paired with 'than' and we usually use the past perfect. Thus:

No sooner had Helen drunk her coffee than the waitress offered to refill the cup.

Vanilla Cake:

Q68
\"Did you visit your grandfather like I have asked you to?\" Mrs Lee asked her son.
Mrs Lee asked _______________________________________________________

Key issue about rewriting direct speech questions into indirect speech is to change the word order into statement form. Thus:

Mrs Lee asked her son whether he had visited his grandfather like she had asked him to.

Rgds
R

Hi Ridcully,
Nice to see you on KSP again.
:thankyou:

[ridcully]

adbie:

Hi, I'm looking for the authoritative guidebook on grammar for the PSLE standard, if it exists. Appreciate any help here.


Apparently, there are differing grammar rules. I've come across examples in assessment books, past test papers and internet that aren't consistent.

Some grammarians prefer to sit on the fence and claim that certain grammar rules are flexible. This is not good because there's only 1 correct answer in the exam!

I remember reading one or two years back that a series of books on grammar called 'About Grammar' was being produced by MOE and NIE. I am not up-to-date with what's what. If anyone knows about this, please share.

See for instance:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1088105/1/.html

Rgds
R

[Alchemist]

thanks ridcully for your explanation. Its a pleasure to read them.

[Alchemist]

Hi - More S&T queries.


1) The security guard told the children, "Do not play in this area".
The security guard told the children ________________________________.
DS ans : The security guard told the children to not play in that area.
Answer key : The security guard told the children not to play in that area.

(My instinct was to go with the answer key, as that is how I would say it. But any views on whether DS answer could be acceptable?)

2) As he came late, he missed the first part of the concert programme.
If he had _________________________________________________________.

DS: If he had not come late, he would not have missed the first part of the concert programme.
Answer key : If he had come early, he would not have missed the first part of the concert programme.
(meaning is the same, but any implication due to the doube negative - apart from making a cumbersome sentence?)

Please advise and thanks in advance.

[ms_lim]

Please help to explain this qn from Pei Chun 2011 Prelim, ans key is (4) but why not (1) :


My elder sister has been so busy with her work the past week that she has not got round to ______ her laundry.
(1) do
(2) does
(3) done
(4) doing

[htn]

Hi,Ridcully

Can u please help me with these:
She could not bear to leave when she heard the little girl _____loudly.
answer given is scream and not screamed, can explain.

TIA

[r2010]

Hi Can someone help me with the henry Park q66.


Qs Tim is afraid of the dark. He does not want to sleep alone.

My DS answer - Fearing of the dark, Tim does not want to sleep alone.

Answer given - fearing the dark, Tim does not want to sleep alone.

[ridcully]

vidhyalog:

DS ans : The security guard told the children to not play in that area.

Answer key : The security guard told the children not to play in that area.

(My instinct was to go with the answer key, as that is how I would say it. But any views on whether DS answer could be acceptable?)

DS's answer is acceptable: There is no change in meaning.

Your DS's answer is an example of a split infinitive. The old chestnut that you cannot split an infinitive is buried. However, to my ears, it sounds better not to split [or is that 'to not split'?!]. Thus, I personally prefer the answer key's 'not to play'.

The preferred form is not to split an infinitive unless there is a compelling reason, such as for emphasis:

Teacher Ridcully wishes to boldly go where no grammarian has gone before.

vidhyalog:

2) As he came late, he missed the first part of the concert programme.
If he had _________________________________________________________.

DS: If he had not come late, he would not have missed the first part of the concert programme.
Answer key : If he had come early, he would not have missed the first part of the concert programme.
(meaning is the same, but any implication due to the doube negative - apart from making a cumbersome sentence?)

No implication for PSLE's purposes.

In terms of audience, you will find that people whose first language is Chinese sometimes have problems comprehending double-negatives.

Rgds
R